Willie McNeil came to LA barely out of high school in the early 1980s. He got busy quickly and hasn’t stopped since, playing with bands across the musical spectrum, sometimes as a sideman but more often as a leader. These days, he’s most widely known as the drummer and frontman for Big Willie’s Burlesque, a troupe of musicians and dancers that appears weekly at LA’s hottest clubs including No Vacancy and The Edison. In this podcast, Willie talks about:
How working in a clothing store kickstarted his music career in LA
His experience coming to LA in the 80s vs. a young drummer’s experience today
His gig in the house band at The Forty Deuce, where the LA Burlesque scene was born
Tricks of the Burlesque drumming trade, and incorporating different styles into the Burlesque genre
Some common mistakes American musicians make when playing Afro-Cuban styles
His “whatever works” approach to gear
The advantages of smaller cities over LA and New York, particularly in terms of live music scenes
This episode of Working Drummer Podcast is sponsored by OnlineDrummer.com